Rapier Pommel
Physical Object
1986.008.0742
Nuestra Señora de Atocha (1622)
circa 1620
An iron rapier pommel recovered from the 1622 galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha. A pommel is a globular knob that screwed onto the base end of a sword hilt, to act as a counterweight to the long blade and move the center of gravity toward the hilt and the hand. This balance made the rapier much easier to handle and maneuver. The iron base of this piece is decorated with a plating of silver. It is 6.2 centimeters long.